Today in Africa — May 13, 2026: French President’s Africa Pitch Draws Backlash, Ghana Begins South Africa Evacuations

South African Media Industry Giant Maria McCloy Dies at 50

South African DJ, publicist, fashion designer, and cultural figure Maria McCloy has passed away at 50 after suffering heart failure, according to her family. McCloy worked with artists including Thandiswa Mazwai, Sjava, Somi, and Nakhane, and was known for moving between music, fashion, and African cultural spaces for decades.

Côte d'Ivoire Farmers Protest Over Rotting Cocoa Stocks

Côte d'Ivoire’s Coffee and Cocoa Council says it will send officials to the town of M’Batto after farmers protested over unpaid cocoa beans they say are rotting in storage. Farmers across several regions say they still have not been paid for cocoa harvested during the main crop season, despite a government program meant to collect unsold stocks after global prices dropped sharply below local prices. Some growers warn that the crisis could hurt the next harvest as farmers struggle to maintain plantations and are forced to sell beans at much lower prices.

Floods and Heavy Rains Kill at Least 10 in South Africa

At least 10 people have died, and more than 10,000 structures have been damaged after severe flooding and storms hit parts of South Africa. Authorities declared a natural disaster as torrential rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and snowfall battered six provinces, with informal settlements around Cape Town among the hardest hit. Officials temporarily closed schools and parts of Table Mountain while emergency crews responded to widespread damage.

Cameroon Cracks Down on Illegal Gold Mining Operations

Cameroon says it has identified nearly 200 illegal gold-mining companies operating in the country’s East and Adamawa regions, with officials claiming that more than 95% are foreign-owned. Authorities ordered operators without valid licenses to halt activities immediately as part of wider reforms aimed at tightening oversight in the gold sector. The crackdown comes as concerns grow over weak traceability and huge discrepancies between Cameroon’s official gold exports and much larger imports reported by countries like the UAE.

Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe Targets Another Record at Berlin Marathon

Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe will return to the Berlin Marathon in September after becoming the first man to run an official marathon in under two hours last month. The 31-year-old, who won the 2025 Berlin Marathon, says he hopes to run “as fast as” possible again on one of the world’s quickest marathon courses. Organizers expect nearly 60,000 runners from around 160 countries to take part in this year’s race.

Suspended South African Top Cop Appears in Court With “Cat” Matlala Over $12 Million Tender Case

Suspended South African national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola appeared in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today, Wednesday, May 13, alongside alleged underworld figure Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and 14 others over an allegedly irregular R228 million (about $14 million) healthcare contract. Prosecutors amended the charge sheet to formally include Masemola, who faces four charges linked to alleged violations of the Public Finance Management Act tied to the Medicare 24 Tshwane District contract, while Matlala remains accused of fraud, corruption, and money laundering. The case was postponed to June 26 as investigators continue reviewing financial records and other evidence.